Abstract |
The H/ACA RNAs are an abundant family of trans-acting, noncoding RNAs found in eukaryotes and archaea. More than 100 H/ACA RNAs are known to exist in humans. The function of the majority of the identified H/ACA RNAs is to guide sites-pecific pseudouridylation of ribosomal RNA. In eukaryotes, H/ACA RNAs also mediate the processing of pre-rRNA, provide the template for telomere synthesis, and guide pseudouridylation of other classes of target RNAs (e.g., small nuclear RNAs [snRNAs]). Thus, currently, the H/ACA RNAs are known to be integrally involved in the production of both ribosomes and spliceosomes, and in the maintenance of chromosome integrity. In addition, dozens of H/ACA RNAs have been identified for which no function has yet been determined. The H/ACA RNAs select and present substrate molecules via base pairing. All H/ACA RNAs contain conserved sequence elements (box H and box ACA) and assemble with a core set of four proteins to form functional ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). Mutations in key RNA and protein components of H/ACA RNPs result in dyskeratosis congenita, a serious multisystem genetic disease. Impressive progress has been made very recently in understanding the biogenesis, trafficking, and function of H/ACA RNPs.
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Authors | M Terns, R Terns |
Journal | Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology
(Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol)
Vol. 71
Pg. 395-405
( 2006)
ISSN: 0091-7451 [Print] United States |
PMID | 17381322
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)
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Chemical References |
- Archaeal Proteins
- Macromolecular Substances
- Protein Subunits
- RNA Precursors
- RNA, Untranslated
- Ribonucleoproteins
- Telomerase
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Topics |
- Animals
- Archaeal Proteins
(chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
- Coiled Bodies
(metabolism)
- Dyskeratosis Congenita
(genetics, metabolism)
- Genomic Instability
- Humans
- Macromolecular Substances
- Models, Molecular
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Protein Subunits
- RNA Precursors
(chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
- RNA Splicing
- RNA, Untranslated
(chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
- Ribonucleoproteins
(chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
- Telomerase
(metabolism)
- Transcription, Genetic
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